Is Darth Vader #3 worth grading?
Star Wars · 1983 Star Wars: Return of the Jedi · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Darth Vader #3 sells for $78.00 against $1.59 raw: a $76.41 spread, 49× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($71.32) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.59
- Grade 9.5
- $78.00
- PSA 9
- $71.32
- Gem premium
- 49×
- As of
- Aug 16, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — Grade 9.5 | $78.00 | +$51.41 | +$26.41 | −$73.59 |
| PSA 9 | $71.32 | +$44.73 | +$19.73 | −$80.27 |
| PSA 8 | $65.00 | +$38.41 | +$13.41 | −$86.59 |
Net = sale price − $1.59 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $72.99 | +$21.40 |
| 50% | $74.66 | +$23.07 |
| 75% | $76.33 | +$24.74 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $78.00 |
| 9 | $71.32 |
| 8 | $65.00 |
| 7 | $34.45 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
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Other 1983 Star Wars: Return of the Jedi cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Darth Vader #3 — FAQ
Is Darth Vader #3 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Darth Vader #3 sells for $78.00 against $1.59 raw: a $76.41 spread, 49× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($71.32) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
Is your Star Wars card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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